Functionalized SSBR and Silica Rubber Composition for Tire Balance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Tire manufacturers face challenges in simultaneously improving rolling resistance, wet performance, and wear resistance, as existing rubber compositions often prioritize one property over others, leading to an imbalance in viscoelastic properties.
Innovation Solution
A rubber composition comprising an end-group functionalized solution-polymerised styrene-butadiene (SSBR) copolymer with terminal carboxyl groups and functionalized silica, which has specific surface area, carbon content, and pore volume distribution ratios, providing an interactive and synergistic effect that enhances wet performance, rolling resistance, and wear resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional rubber compositions are used to improve rolling resistance, then fuel efficiency is improved, but wet performance and wear resistance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a composite rubber composition containing multiple polymer components (polybutadiene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, and acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber) combined with specific silane coupling agents and antioxidants. This composite formulation achieves a balance between rolling resistance, wet performance, and wear resistance by leveraging the synergistic effects of different materials with complementary properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention optimizes specific compositional parameters including the weight ratios of different rubber polymers (0.5-2.0 parts polybutadiene, 1.0-3.0 parts styrene-butadiene, 0.5-2.0 parts acrylonitrile-butadiene per 100 parts total rubber), silane coupling agent content (0.5-2.0 parts per 100 parts rubber), and antioxidant ratios. These parameter optimizations enable simultaneous improvement of rolling resistance and wet/wear performance.
2Reliability
If rubber composition components are modified to improve one property, then that property is improved, but other properties become unbalanced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by assigning specific functional roles to different polymer components: polybutadiene provides elasticity and low rolling resistance, styrene-butadiene contributes to tensile strength and wear resistance, and acrylonitrile-butadiene enhances wet grip. The silane coupling agent is specifically positioned at the interface between rubber and silica to improve dispersion and bonding, while antioxidants are distributed to protect against degradation. This localized functional assignment maintains overall composition stability while improving individual properties.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The combination of end-group functionalized SSBR copolymer and functionalized silica results in tires with excellent balance between wet performance, rolling resistance, and wear resistance, achieving unprecedented dispersion of fillers and improved tire properties.
Implementation Method 1
a functionalized polymer and a functionalized silica... an interactive and/or synergistic effect is observed on the viscoelastic properties
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides rubber compositions suitable for tyre manufacture comprising a functionalised polymer and a functionalised silica.